“One who interposes between two parties at variance to reconcile them; an intercessor; an intermediary agent, or go-between.”

As a Jehovah’s Witness (JW) I always believed that Jesus was my Mediator, especially when I look at a definition like the one above. After all, when we pray in Jesus’ name, is that not recognizing Jesus as the Mediator or “go between” or perhaps “intercessor” between us and the Father? If you were to ask the average JW publisher the question, “Is Jesus your Mediator?” I feel very confident that the vast majority would emphatically say, YES! Even when I was serving as a ministerial servant (deacon), I was sure that Jesus was my Mediator. It was after I gave my first public talk (sermon) and said the closing prayer for the meeting that something was brought to my attention. I closed the prayer with these words,

“We pray in the name of your Son, our King and Mediator Jesus Christ, Amen.”

The reason I remember this so well is because the instant I stepped off of the platform an elder approached me and he kindly told me that Jesus wasnot my Mediator. Naturally, this set me back a bit. I looked him in the eye and I said, “What?” He then said,

“Jesus is your Ransomer, but he is not your Mediator. He is Mediator only for the 144,000.”

Being a “wet behind the ears” ministerial servant at the time, I didn’t dare challenge his statement without thoroughly researching what he said. So that afternoon I went home and began my study from the Watchtower CD-ROM to see if what this brother said was true. Much to my surprise and disappointment, I found that according to the Watchtower organization Jesus is not my Mediator. The Watchtower teaches that Jesus is not Mediator for the great crowd, but He is Mediator for only the 144,000.

I personally find this belief not only highly offensive, but also immoral on the part of the Watchtower! If you are a JW and a member of the “great crowd,” please ask yourself the following questions;

1) If Jesus is not my Mediator then who is?

2) If Jesus is not my Mediator then why do I pray in Jesus’ name?

3) If Jesus is not my Mediator, does Jehovah hear my prayers?

4) If Jesus is not my Mediator, then how do I apply 1Timothy 2:5?

5) If Jesus is not my Mediator, can His blood cover my sins?

6) If Jesus is not my Mediator, how do I explain the Insight book’s definition of Mediator?

7) If Jesus is not my Mediator, why are we not sacrificing animals?

8 ) Do I believe what the Bible says about Jesus’ role as Mediator, or what the Watchtower teaches?

Just recently I asked my wife, a lifelong JW who is still devout and exemplary in the local congregation, if she believed that Jesus was her Mediator. She said with no hesitation whatsoever, “Absolutely!” When I told her the Watchtower’s point of view her exact words were,

“Well, I’m not sure what the Watchtower says about it, but I know for a fact that Jesus is my Mediator.”

All I can say about her comment is that I praise God that she knows and accepts Jesus as her Mediator in spite of what the Watchtower teaches!

I mentioned above that I consider the organization’s teaching on this subject as immoral. Here’s why. Over the years, through my studies, I have come to the understanding that the Watchtower has set themselves (the governing body) up as a false or “anti-type” mediator for the “great crowd.” They have actually put themselves in the place of Jesus in several ways, but for the sake of brevity here are just two;

First, by requiring that JW’s report their sins to the elders for true forgiveness to take place. Ultimately, in the organization, the decision as to whether or not the individual is repentant is decided by the elders. They base this decision upon how the person responds to their questions and upon the information provided by the Watchtower Society in either the “shepherding book” or Watchtower articles regarding the sin at hand. Yet, the organization has the audacity to criticize the Catholic Church for having a confessional. What’s the difference? The truth is, forgiveness comes from true repentance and from faith in the shed blood of our Mediator Jesus Christ! Not from men! (1John 1:9-2:3)

Secondly, the Watchtower’s governing body has set themselves up in the place of the Holy Spirit. I can honestly say this because they are the ones who teach and interpret all Scripture for all JW’s. Yet in the Bible we are told that this is the job of God’s Holy Spirit (See John 14:26 and 1John 2:20 &27) Once again the Watchtower criticizes The Catholic Church for doing this, yet the organization is guilty of the very same thing. What hypocrisy! (See Watchtower 3/15/63 pages 169-170 paragraph 6) You can find this reference in my article, Can You Understand The Bible?

Without the rank and file Jehovah’s Witness realizing it, the organization has actually robbed them of their perfect King, Mediator and High Priest by replacing Him with a group of deluded, imperfect men. The governing body has cut the “great crowd of Jehovah’s Witnesses” off from the heavenly kingdom and has created a 2 class society. Jesus warned the religious leaders of His day about this very thing in Matthew 23:13 when He said,

“Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for YOU yourselves do not go in, neither do YOU permit those on their way in to go in. (NWT)

If you are a Jehovah’s Witness, please prayerfully and carefully consider the above questions and know that Jesus is your Mediator. Don’t let a group of men rob you of your relationship with God and His Son Jesus. Psalm 118:8-9 says,

“It is better to trust in Jehovah than to trust in man; 9 it is better to trust in Jehovah than to trust in nobles.” (LITV)

So once again my question for you is, do you believe Jesus is your Mediator as the Bible says, or do you choose to trust in men by following the Watchtower’s interpretation?

7 Responses to Is Jesus Your Mediator?

I’ve always been amazed at how the Jdubs will condemn another group for doing exactly what they’re doing. The religious leaders of this organization mimic the actions of the Pharisees of Jesus day. They add extra burdens to their brothers, they use guilt and shame to keep their followers in the dark spiritually and insist that they are the only way to a relationship with God. To anyone who is still imprisoned in the spiritual desert known as Jehovah’s Witnesses, I urge you to listen to the often misquoted words of the governing body: ‘Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins’. This organization is misrepresenting the caring and loving God that I worship and love.

Great article Mark, thank you.
Rev. ch 14 calls for the saints to endure, who, “observe the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.”
Its apparent that throughout the ministry of Jesus, He had faith in the plan of salvation, that is, the life, death and resurrection that He went through to win us back from the curse of sin. The text above calls us to obedience to God our Father and have the same faith Jesus did in his sacrifice for us. Trusting in Jesus and his death in our stead is the only way that we can be saved to God’s eternal Kingdom. His mediation for us is well documented in the latter parts of the new testament, especially Hebrews. He is our high priest on the order of Melchizedek, A priestly King!
Rick Tyler

Thanks bro great article, i was born a JW all my life i believed only JWs have the truth until last year when i was doing some research into Jerusalems destruction i was shocked and surprised to find out that 607bc is not the correct date for Jerusalems destruction.

It took me one whole year of research to finally prove that the correct date is 587bc and not 607bc.

If the Society knew the facts and yet continue to ignore it then they will answer to Jehovah for their dishonesty.

1John 2:21 says no lie originates with truth
Eze 13:8-9 says Jehovah has said because you have spoken untruth and lied i am against you.

About Me

I was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness (JW) along with my wife in May of 1996. I progressed very quickly through the ranks of the JW organization becoming a Ministerial servant (Deacon) then an elder which in the JW organization is equivalent to a Pastor. I received an official certificate of Ordination from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in May of 2004 which most JW's never obtain including elders. Because of my zeal for the ministry and Bible study I had the privilege of being used extensively. I was a Ministry School Overseer, Service Overseer & Bookstudy Overseer simultaneously. I gave many talks (sermons) throughout Virginia, West Virginia and a couple in North Carolina. I also gave talks at large assemblies and spent many hours each month in the door to door ministry. I served on Judicial appeals committees which most elders have never done. I love and respect many in the JW organization. As of November 2009 I am no longer associated with the JW's. I DO NOT and WILL NOT slander my Christian JW brothers. While I believe that they are misled in several areas, I also believe they are serving God and Jesus with a sincere heart. (Acts 17:30)
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